Process of distillation



D. L. NEWTON.

PROCESS OF DISTILLATION.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-1|, 1918- I 1,356,878. Patented Oct. 26,1920.

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. DAN/ELLMEWTON 4 ATTORNEY? filmed in order to expose the greatest posheat, by means of subjecting the saturated marina n-mawrou, or rtfnwarox, camroniwm' :aaodznas or nr srmn'rrou.

a a a man man. Patented Oct. 26, 19 20.

a umma filed pcptember 11, ms. Serial in. 263,011.

To all whom it may concern:

, Be it known that I, 'DANIEL L. Nnw'ron, a citizen of the United States, residing at jFullerton, in the county of Orange and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements-in Processes of Distillation, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a rocess of distillation especially designed or the productiol'i of light hydrocarbons, such as gasolene.

In the absorption method of producing gasolene' from natural gas the h drocarbon uid hydrosible surface to the hydrocarbon vapors to be absorbed. A seal oil is a neutral mineral oil'resembling kerosene, slightl yellowish in color, of 35 B. The seal o1l saturated .with h drocarbon is treated by the ordinary -metho s of distillation to separate the absorbed h drocarbons from the seal oil, the latter bemg continuously used in the cycle of operation for absorbing another quantity of hydrocarbon vapors.

My invention has for its object to devise an exceedingly simple, yet eflicient, process of separating the absorbed hydrocarbons from the absorbent oil without the use of absorbent in the shape of a film to a partial vacuum, which may be progressively increased, if it is desired to separate hydrocarbons at progressively higher boiling points.

My invention consists in the steps of the I process hereinafter described and claimed.

, "In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, I have illustrated in vertical section the apparatus used in the carrying out of my process, said apparatus being shown connected up with other apparatus which is diagrammatically shown.

In the drawing, 10 indicates an absorber of the usual or any preferredtype through which the hydrocarbon vapors and gases are conducted by means of a pipe 11, the same entering the absorber near the bottom thereof. The absorber 10 is filled with crushed rock, and the like, through which the absorbent hydrocarbon oil, such as seal oil,

pipe at the top of the absorber 10. The absorbent 'oil now saturated with hydrocarbons is conducted throu h the valved outlet pipe '15 from the a sorber 10 b means of a pum 16 to a spraying device I; of any preferre .construction which is disposed-inthe 11 per part of a vacuumstill 18 which still 1n particular constitutes my present invention.

The still 18 is shown cylindrical in form and having dis osed therein a series of foraminous ba e plates 19 supported on supporting rings 20. I have SlOWIl three ba e plates 19 although the number may beincreased or decreased if desired. A vertical pipe 21 open at both ends passes centrally through all the baffle plates, the upper end of the pipe being bent over at 22 to prevent any of the saturated absorbent from assing into said pipe. 23 are downwardly ent necks commumcating with the central pipe 21 and disposed in the upper part of compartments 24, 25' a and 26 formed by the foraminous baflie plates 19 and the still 18. Crushed rock, or other suitable material, preferably granite, of a size to pass through a half inch or inch mesh screen is placed in the compartments 24, 25 and 26. 27 are manholes giving access to the various compartments of the still. A vapor outlet pipe 28 leads from the top of'the still 18 'to a vacuum pump and compressor 29 which conducts the compressed va ors through a pipe 30 to a condenser 31 0 any preferred construction. 32 is the bottom compartment of the still 18 connecting the exhausted absorbent which is conducted by a valved controlled outlet pipe 33 to a pump 34 thence through pipe 35 to the sprayer 12 in the absorber 10 where it renews its cycle of operation.

In the operation the hydrocarbon vapors and gases are passed through the absorber 10 saturating the absorbent hydrocarbon oil which is-conducted by means of pipe 15 and pump 16 to the top of the still 18 without preheating and preferably at ordinary temperatures, whence it is sprayed onto the crushed granite in the top compartment 26, whence it trickles and percolates successively over and through the layers of crushed granitein compartments 25 and 24. It may be here stated that the absorbent oil is, preferably a petroleum distillate known in the trade as seal oil. About 14 gallons of seal oil' are required for the absorption of one 5 gallon of gasolene contained in the natural gas.

posing an enormously. large surface-6st the saturated oil to the action of the partial vacuum formed in the upper compartment 26 by means of the vacuum pump ,The

pipe 21 with the necks 23 serves to equalize the vacuum obtained in the still throughout the various compartments. The vacuum is gradually increased up to twenty-five inchesoperation is desired it will, of course,

necessary to pass the absorbent from chamber 32 repeatedly through the still18.

While I have shown my apparatus in connection with the process of distilling gasolene by the absorption method it may be used independently thereof, and crude oil may at once be run through 111 still and topped to produce gasolene, prefer to use iron shavings-or coarse screens in place of the granite with the use of crude oil. Nor

is my invention limited to the distillation of the lighter vhydrocarbon, but may be The supply of the saturated oil is so controlledthat a fine film formed on the surface of the granite, thereby exused in connect-ion with the distillation of an substances volatile at 200 F. or less.

.ariousiehanges 'inithe steps of the proc: ess and in' the construction, arrangement and-combination of parts in the apparatus be made by those skilled in the art' ma without-departing from the spirit qfqmy inti n. a sc a le i.v

I'claim:

1. A process of distilling volatile substances comprising passing a liquid contain ing the volatile substance in the shape of a film through a distilling zone at substantially ordinary "temperatures, creating a partial vacuum in said zone and removing the vapors liberated from the liquid.

2. A process of distilling light hydrocarbons, comprising passing aliquid hydrocarbon containing said li ht hydrocarbons in solution in the shape 0 a film througha distilling zone at substantially ordinary temperatures, creating a partial vacuum in said zone, and removing and condensing the vapor; liberated from the liquid.

3, comprising passing a liquid hydrocarbon containing light hydrocarbons in solution in the shape of a film through a distillingzone at substantially ordinary tem eratures, creedly passingsaid liquid throu h the. dis tilling zone at, progressively er degrees of vacuum and removin and process of distilling hy o ating a partial vacuum in sai zone,repeatpar y condensing the vapors li grated from the li uid. M

n testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specif cation v D L, NEWTON, 

